I’ve gotten a bit farther on my art project, the first part of which can be found here.

Now that the canvas had been assembled and the wood glue paste had dried, it could be sanded smooth. I started with a medium grain sanding block to file down the bulk of the imperfections. I used a circular motion while applying pressure, being careful not to rub too hard on the edges which could cause them to splinter. Once all the bumps were smoothed out, I went over it again with a fine grit sanding block to remove any rugged texture caused by the first sanding.

I also needed to fill in two knots on the face with a bit more wood glue to make an even surface.

Once that was dry, it was time to prime! Just like when painting a wall, a good prime coat can help to seal the surface so that the top coat of color doesn’t just get soaked up like a sponge leaving splotches of uneven color. I could have used a white paint or even one a shade lighter than my top coat to prime with, but I chose to use Mod Podge, a very clear-drying glue-like substance that I had on hand.

I used a brush because that’s what I had, but I would highly recommend you use a foam brush or small foam roller if you can find one, as they don’t cause the same streakiness and texture that a bristle brush can cause. Ideally, spray paint would have been even better for both primer and topcoat as it would completely eliminate texture, but I couldn’t find a color that I liked. I just used extra care in painting the primer on as smoothly as I could while still working quickly, because if you try to paint over an area that is partially dry you’ll end up creating even more undesirable texture on the surface.

When the primer was dry, I was ready for the top coat. I used this Martha Stewart acrylic craft paint in “deep sea” with a satin finish. Next to it is the contrasting mint-colored crochet thread I’ll be using to make the string art with later!

I painted the sides first…

And finished the top making sure that all of my brush strokes were in the same direction. This canvas got one more coat with all brushstrokes in the opposite direction, again to minimize the unavoidable surface texture created when using a bristle brush.

That bottle of craft paint ended up being exactly enough to cover the canvas twice. Lucky!

Now, I’m waiting for something to come in the mail before I can work on this project any more. You’ll see what that is on the next project update!

March 13, 2012 Alayna Discussion 6 comments

The last race I ran in was the Tour Decatur 5k about a year ago. I ran a bit more here and there after that and then pretty much just stopped running entirely until a few months ago.

There are a lot of reasons why I fell off the wagon with running; I was a bit depressed in our old apartment, I didn’t have a gym membership and couldn’t motivate to run outside in the Georgia heat, and I was stressed out with trying to find a new place to live while packing and starting to write a cookbook. All that is behind me now though. Since October I’ve been getting back out there running around my neighborhood and then pounding the treadmill at the gym after I signed up in January.

Today I signed up for the Tour Decatur 5k again, the same race I ran a year ago. I think it’s a fitting re-entry into racing, don’t you?

I don’t know if I’ll beat my PR or anything, but I’m glad to just be getting back out there.

In other fitness news, I mentioned in my last post that I’ve been doing Jamie Eason’s LiveFit trainer featured on Bodybuilding.com. I just finished week 2 (of 12) today and I already feel amazing!

I was so impressed with Janetha’s results on Meals and Moves that I knew I just had to give it a shot. While I knew I enjoyed strength training, I didn’t realize just how much. Before this program, I only knew how to do some very basic weightlifting, and I knew nothing about how to structure a routine or how to use some of the scarier-looking weight machines. With this program, everything is explained in detail and every recommended exercise is accompanied by a video clip showing just how to do it.

At just 2 weeks in, I’ll hold off on a more detailed review until later, but I can say that even after such a short time on the program I can already see muscle definition peeking out and though I’ve gained a few pounds in muscle, it’s obvious to me that I’ve already let go of a little fat.

The hardest part of the LiveFit program to me is the constant eating and guzzling of water! I feel like it’s a full time job to keep myself fed and hydrated. It’s a small price to pay though to look as fit and fabulous as Jamie!

So, it’s been a bit of a fitness-splosion going on over here! Hopefully after my 5k this month I’ll feel confident enough to start looking for a 10k to do, and maybe a half marathon later in the year if I’m feeling crazy.

Do you have any fitness goals for this year?

March 9, 2012 Alayna Fitness 11 comments

I was tagged by Sara of Nik Naks and Noms to do the 11 things quiz that’s been circulating around. I didn’t realize how long this one is! Took me a couple of days to finish it, but here it goes…

Rules:

1. Post these rules.
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions the person who tagged you set for you in their post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them.
6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you’re reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people.

Random Things:

1. I’m on week 2 of Jamie Eason’s LiveFit program and loving it. So soorrreee…
   
2. Favorite chore: unloading the dishwasher. It’s like putting together a puzzle where all the pieces are dishes.
3. In the third grade, I lost a spelling bee on the word “squirrel.”
4. On the topic of squirrels, we have one that lives in a tree outside our kitchen and he can be heard banging pecans against our kitchen door ALL DAY in an effort to break them open. I don’t think he realizes that this opening feature is a property of any hard surface and not just a property of our door.
5. I once hosted a Scrabble tournament among friends with a cash prize, came in second.
6. I shave my arms. The hair on my arms is not pretty light peach fuzz and it doesn’t all grow in one direction. I’m very self-conscious about it so I just shave it off.
7. When I was a kid, I had the tip of my left pointer finger chopped off in a car door. I had to have it sown back on and I wore a silly huge bandage over it that looked like something out of a cartoon. Still have a small scar there.
8. Love sweets. I try to keep only one dessert in the house at a time because I can’t trust myself to say no to sugar. This is also why I only bake for special occasions though I love baking.
9. Cat Facts: Liam has only one working lung and he sounds like a coffee percolator when he breathes. Lucas used to play fetch with us when he was a baby but now he’s too fat and lazy.
10. Our wedding anniversary is my maternal grandmother’s birthday. I used to say when I was a little girl that I wanted to get married on her birthday, so I thought it’d be fun and special to see that through.
11. I’m making at least one more wedding cake this year and I’m really excited about it!

Questions from my tagger:

1. Where is your dream destination? – Right now I’m lusting after Thailand.

2. If you could do anything, job wise, for the rest of your life, what would it be? – I’m not career-oriented at all. I really wish I could spend all of my days traveling, learning, and creating things, so for me a job is merely a means to those ends. If I had to wake up and do the same thing 5 times a week for the rest of my life though, I’d probably want to be a travel photographer.

3. Are you a dressy type or a jeans and t-shirt type? – I wish I could be a dressy type but those kinds of clothes are just not practical for my lifestyle right now. I’ve been making an effort to buy more girly things though.

4. Do you buy any snacks at the movie theater? If so, which ones? – Nope. I see a movie in the theater about once a year as it is. I don’t bring snacks either, just watch the movie.

5. Do you have any hidden talents? What are they? – Uh, not really. I can name all the presidents in the order that they served and all the states alphabetically, but that’s just my uncanny memory, not really a talent.

6. Would you ever sleep outside, on the ground, without a tent? – Sure, but I wouldn’t enjoy it. I used to be so outdoorsy when I was a kid too, but now nature and I don’t mesh so well.

7. What’s you’re favorite song at the moment? – Blue Ridge Mountains by Fleet Foxes, or pretty much anything by Fleet Foxes.

8. Are you a night owl or a morning person? -Neither? I’m getting too old to be able to stay out late anymore but I still have a hard time getting up early.

9. How many states have you been to and which one was your favorite? – I’ve been to 11 states and undoubtedly my favorite was Washington. Seattle was a really cool city.

10. What’s your favorite pizza topping(s)? – Mushrooms! The more the merrier.

11. Do you have any phobias? – Needles. I completely lose it when I have to get a shot or get blood taken. I know it won’t hurt, but I have these awful fantasies of the needle getting bumped accidentally and getting lodged in my arm or something awful like that.

11 questions from me:

1. Favorite household chore?
2. What country could you see yourself living in for a year or more?
3. What was your first car?
4. What is your favorite song to bliss out and relax to?
5. What was the hardest job you’ve ever had?
6. How long does it take you to get to sleep?
7. Favorite breakfast food?
8. Are you handy with tools or home improvement stuff?
9. What is your favorite bar or restaurant?
10. Do you have any nervous habits?
11. Can you hula hoop?

I know I’m not supposed to just say whoever wants to do this is tagged, but I’ve seen so many people do this quiz that I don’t know who hasn’t done it yet. So instead, answer one or more of the questions from me in the comments section!

March 7, 2012 Alayna Discussion 18 comments